S-3921.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6555
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 56th Legislature 2000 Regular Session
By Senators Long, Hargrove, Patterson, Costa, Eide, Winsley and Kohl‑Welles
Read first time 01/19/2000. Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.
AN ACT Relating to the evaluations of foster children for long-term needs; and amending RCW 74.14A.050.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 74.14A.050 and 1998 c 245 s 149 are each amended to read as follows:
The secretary shall:
(1)(a) Consult with relevant qualified professionals to develop a set of minimum guidelines to be used for identifying all children who are in a state-assisted support system, whether at-home or out-of-home, who are likely to need long-term care or assistance, because they face physical, emotional, medical, mental, or other long-term challenges;
(b) The guidelines must, at a minimum, consider the following criteria for identifying children in need of long-term care or assistance:
(i) Placement within the foster care system for two years or more;
(ii) Multiple foster care placements;
(iii) Repeated unsuccessful efforts to be placed with a permanent adoptive family;
(iv) Chronic behavioral or educational problems;
(v) Repetitive criminal acts or offenses;
(vi) Failure to comply with court-ordered disciplinary actions and other imposed guidelines of behavior, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation; and
(vii) Chronic physical, emotional, medical, mental, or other similar conditions necessitating long-term care or assistance;
(2) Develop programs that are necessary for the long-term care of children and youth that are identified for the purposes of this section. Programs must: (a) Effectively address the educational, physical, emotional, mental, and medical needs of children and youth; and (b) incorporate an array of family support options, to individual needs and choices of the child and family. The programs must be ready for implementation by January 1, 1995;
(3) Conduct an evaluation of all children currently within the foster care agency caseload to identify those children who meet the criteria set forth in this section. The evaluation shall be completed by January 1, 1994. All children entering the foster care system after January 1, 1994, must be evaluated for identification of long-term needs within thirty days of placement;
(4) Report to the legislature by October 1, 2000, the following:
(a) The number of evaluations, by region, of children needing long-term care that were conducted between January 1, 1994, and January 1, 2000;
(b) The content of the evaluation tool and whether the same tool is used consistently across the state and if not, why not;
(c) The impact the evaluations have had on placement, permanency, and case planning for affected foster children;
(d) Of the total number of evaluations conducted during the time period specified in this subsection, the number that were conducted during the first thirty days of placement.
(5) Study and develop a comprehensive plan for the evaluation and identification of all children and youth in need of long-term care or assistance, including, but not limited to, the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, medically fragile, seriously emotionally or behaviorally disabled, and physically impaired;
(((5)))
(6) Study and develop a plan for the children and youth in need of
long-term care or assistance to ensure the coordination of services between the
department's divisions and between other state agencies who are involved with
the child or youth;
(((6)))
(7) Study and develop guidelines for transitional services, between
long-term care programs, based on the person's age or mental, physical,
emotional, or medical condition; and
(((7))) (8) Study and develop a statutory proposal
for the emancipation of minors.
--- END ---